Internet news compensation system

ABSTRACT

A computerized compensation system of disseminating a plurality of news and information items offered, contributed, and submitted by a plurality of independent submitters to an internet provider site. The provider site accepts, indexes, catalogs, tracks, meters, and calculates viewer exposure to each submitted news and information item chosen by a plurality of viewers. Compensation due individual submitters is transmitted in real time, as the submitter continues the submission to the provider web site. Billing of funding sources is provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Cross referenced to application article number 2 179 627 347 received atPTO mail center on Feb. 9, 2000.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to operations in which a charge fore-commerce services is automatically and continuously determined andutilized for automated job performance and real time accounting for themetering, calculation, and compensation of service time charges oninternet servers for voluntarily offered contributions of news andinformation. A real time transaction output to contributors is a featureof the present invention. Such cost systems apply to automatic internetconnected news and information sites and a variety of viewer interestsites.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is, briefly stated, an internet news compensationand cost system comprising at least one customized news repositoryserver connected to the internet and accessed by a plurality ofindividual web terminals for viewing news, information, advertising, andbackground in various media including text, voice, plural static images,streaming banners, 3-D images, animation, audio, continuous video andvideo packets whereby viewer interest is involved in the determinationof reporter compensation for a submitted and contributed news orinformation item and exposition. Embodiments of the present inventioncreate an interactive feedback environment that communicates thefinancial benefit to a submitter of the exposure accrued to anexposition in real time during the exposition process.

PRIOR ART

The display of news is common on the internet, as is the display of newsand information to special interest groups. Internet web providers andhost sites are common on the World Wide Web, hereafter referred to asthe web or net. These sites display information and content thatattracts viewers. A provider may self-fund a site but many advertiserspay the site provider that offers space for ads interspersed withprovider content that is being displayed. It is common because ofconvenience for news publishers, whether on the web or other media, torely on news consolidators for the collection and prioritization ofnews. For example, a small town newspaper's site may display nationalnews from a wire service such as Associated Press, a news consolidator.

In the prior art of news publishing, the payment for a news item to anindividual reporter was a matter of arbitrary judgement on the part ofthe publisher. In general, the structure of news media organizations hasbeen a top down management and compensation structure. Salariedreporters are not on average well paid. Independent reporters such aspaparazzi have been relegated to shadowing celebrities. An on-the-scenereporter who submits a report to a news wire service may find thatreport used by a network anchor earning far more than the reporter.

The web communicates breaking news stories in still, audio and videomedia. It can be argued that the depth and variety of web news as wellas other news media has been narrowed by media company consolidations.

In the prior art of TV news programs, viewer surveys have been used asthe basis for advertising time charges. Such surveys are not workablefor judging the comparative value between breaking news stories forreporter compensation.

In the prior art on web commerce, advertisers have compensated aprovider site based on the number of viewer visits to a site whether ornot an advertisement was actually viewed. Also in the prior art of webcommerce, advertisers have compensated a provider based on the number ofreferrals that routed the viewer to the advertiser's site from an adbanner. Duration of view has been addressed by some provider sites bystalling the download of requested data to the viewer so as to hold theviewer's attention for an advertiser. It may be inferred that thiscovert technique may elicit a premium from the advertiser for the site.Such tactics indicate the need for an improved cost system that ties adrevenue more closely to an adjacent item of viewer interest.

In the prior art of TV programs, videotapes are submitted and reportedto a program such as “World's Funniest Videos.” Program personnelmanually view all submissions and present the best for ranking by astudio audience in a prize competition. Such a process includes aplurality of reporters and compensation from a provider based on viewerranking. But the process is too cumbersome for the timely presentationand compensation of live, breaking news, and offers no incentive forin-depth reporting.

In the prior art of television news, an auto accident item might befollowed by an advertisement for the specific car involved. The businessis not rule-based between news subject and product advertisementplacement preferences.

In the prior art of e-commerce, numerous costing and pricing methods areknown for pricing stock items including stock videotapes and clips. Suchprice competition is unsuitable for the unique and transitory items suchas news and live, original reports.

Ginter, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,900, discloses an e-commerce system forvalidating documents by providing a distributed virtual distributionenvironment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling andcontrol of electronically stored or disseminated information. Ginterrelates to validated use of data documents, not live multi-casts. Ginterdescribes a fee for view received by the data provider that may or maynot be shared with authors. Ginter's metering is better termedmonitoring since no calculation of compensation is offered.

Shear, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,508, describes a database usage meteringand protection system and method. Shear describes an annual fee as apay-for-view for inert data documents. Shear provides no way ofreceiving new material from an author. Shear provides no method ofcompensating an author. Shear compensates only the publisher and thedatabase supplier. Shear charges are based on monthly, annual, and usagewhich was the normal method of business transaction prior to Shear.

Reilly, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,549, has disclosed an informationand advertising distribution system and method that concerns recordeddocuments and recorded advertisements. Reilly delays the display ofdownloaded data, does not meter, and has no calculation mechanism.

Fuller, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,112, describes a software program that isdownloaded by a single viewer for tracking the exposure of an embeddedadvertisement for advertiser billing when the program is run. Fullertracks, meters, and bills but not for the document or data, much less amulti media exposition. Fuller provides compensation of the trackingsoftware programmer(s) by advertisers based on usage after a variabledelayed upload.

Dasan, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,662, discloses a personalized newspaper.Since a multitude of reporters is represented in a single download, noindividual reporter can be singled out. Dasan ignores cost orcompensation.

Cragen, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,683, describes a television download ofmultiple film ratings to censor viewer choice. The viewer pays-per-viewfor this recorded service. No compensation tracking, metering,calculation, or compensation concerns the author.

Krishnaswamy, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,494 describes a method ofintegrated video conferencing over the internet that includes billingfor the calls to the participants. No compensation is made for thecontributions of the participants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

PROVIDER SITE: The specification describes an internet news compensationsystem that is comprised of a provider site, a plurality of independentsubmitter web terminals, a plurality of viewer web terminals, fundingsource web terminals, associated site web terminals, and background dataweb terminals. The provider site comprises four components, a submitterweb server, a viewer web server, a metering mechanism, and a layout webserver.

The submitter web server is selected for accepting and indexing aplurality of multi-media expositions from a plurality of independentsubmitter web terminals selected for voluntary submission and continuousupdating of the multi-media expositions by a plurality of independentsubmitters.

The selection of server hardware and data processing software for theprovider site system is made from a wide range of off-the-shelf productssupplied by leading companies including IBM, HP, Apple, Oracle, SAP,Microsoft, and others. In operation the selected hardware and softwarein these internet server sites operate three tier systems asintercessors between submitters and client viewers, handling multi-mediaexpositions as objects, brokering objects between servers, usingparallel processing for simultaneous presentation and internet hostingof multiple expositions, automatically updating multiple files, anddealing seamlessly with multiple data protocols. Further the modems,cables, ISPs, and internet system structure that are selected from thesesuppliers are readily available for continuously updated, electroniccommunication between sites, servers, and terminals in real time.

The multi-media expositions are routed to a viewer web server selectedfor displaying the multi-media expositions on a provider site to aplurality of free agent viewers utilizing a plurality of viewer webterminals.

A metering mechanism comprises means to track, meter, and calculateusing computer hardware and software. For the purposes of theembodiments of the current invention the means to track a multi-mediaexposition as an object is the exposition index number or numericaldesignator that is assigned to each individual exposition by thesubmitter web server. The exposition index number may be a data iteminherent in a lead or a unique number sequentially assigned by thesoftware. An example of a unique number for tracking is shown in FIG. 7.The data processing means to support tracking resides in the productofferings of the aforementioned companies. Such an object brokersoftware program is selected for tracking each multi-media expositionchosen by the free agent viewers for display.

This tracking program is coupled with means such as an accountingroutine, algorithm, or program selected for calculating compensationaccruing to each independent submitter based on at least one selectedviewer exposure measure accruing to each of the submitted multi-mediaexpositions. The means for calculating the compensation for a submitteris at least one price value of a viewer exposure measure (PV) and atleast one viewer count of the exposure of that viewer exposure measuredue to the tracking of the exposition (C) multiplied together (PV×C)times the portion of this site provider gross income to be paid incompensation to the submitter (%). The compensation for a single viewerexposure measure and a single metered count of viewer exposure wouldequal Compensation=(%)×(PV×C). If more than one exposure measure appliesto an exposition, then the calculation means includes the addition andsum of the multiplied amounts resulting in the following calculation forexample

Compensation=(%)×[(PV₁ ×C ₁)+(PV₂ ×C ₂)+(PV₃ ×C ₃)+etc].

The addition of the multiplied subtotals of each price value times eachcount for that viewer exposure measure is shown in FIG. 7 and discussedin the description of that figure. The accounting program coupled withmeans within the accounting routine, algorithm, or program is selectedfor continuously updating the accrued compensation and communicating theupdated accrued compensation to each submitter web terminal using thesubmitter web server. The means for updating the previous calculation isinherent in the calculation since the metered count for each viewerexposure measure is cumulative.

Further, the submitter web server, the plurality of submitter webterminals, the viewer web server, and the metering mechanism are all incontinuous real time electronic communication among each other. Theresult of this real time communication is that the compensation due eachsubmitter is continuously communicated in real time to the submitter webterminal during the continuous communication of the multi-mediaexposition by the submitter web terminal. For example under currenttechnology a camera-equipped cell-phone can be used by a submitter as asubmitter web terminal to send a series of still pictures and a runningmonologue of an exposition. By switching the cell-phone display to textmessaging the submitter can view the accumulated compensation earned bythe submitter to this point in the exposition. Thus the submitter has anopportunity to judge the worth of continuing an exposition.Specifically, this principle of submitter control is illustrated in thebreaking news embodiment.

MEASURES: The metering mechanism calculates compensation based upon oneor more viewer exposure measures. The surest measure of audienceinterest in a multicast is the number of viewers that select a web site.Each one of these viewers after the teaching of the embodiments of thecurrent invention triggers a counter within the metering system of theserver. This metering counts each new viewer as the elemental measure ofviewer participation. Such viewer counts are usually referred to as“hits” upon a web site. There are a variety of other measures forawarding compensation to a submitter.

These viewer exposure measures are chosen from the measure of the numberof viewers, the measure of the duration of view of and by free agentviewer, the measure of free agent viewer response, the measure of freeagent viewer click through to a linked site, and all possible measurecombinations thereof. The number of viewers is the cumulative meteringcount. The duration of view by a viewer of a multi-media exposition canbe measured because the loss of a viewer results in the cessation ofrequests for multi-media packets. For example a condition for continuingprovider site download to a viewer may be that the viewer mustperiodically strike the space bar of the viewer web terminal. Thus thebeginning time of the download subtracted from either the current timeor the time the provider site first omitted a periodic request signalrepresents the duration of view. Free agent viewer response is thenumber of responses to an on-screen request or offering. For example,the site provider may offer a free premium or gift related to theexposition to elicit responses from viewers. Click-through to a linkedsite is a standard internet measure. For example, an advertiser will paya site provider for hosting an advertisement and then pay an additionalfee for viewers that click-through to the advertisers home site wherethe product may be ordered directly. Specifically, viewer measures aredepicted by the instruction embodiment. Viewer measures are illustratedin FIG. 6 and explained in the detailed description of FIG. 6. Thecriteria for choice among the measures is based upon the ability of thechosen software resident in the metering mechanism to meter a particularmeasure and the inclusion of that measure in the preference list of thefunding source.

PROMOTION: With the enormous volume of material available on theinternet it would be impossible for a single exposition to gain anysizeable audience on its own within a short period of time withoutpromotion. The embodiments of the current invention use associated sitesto promote expositions. Associated sites are internet sites that arelikely to have the same viewer audience as may be associated with thecharacteristics of the exposition. Thus the web server is furtherselected for real time communication with associated internet sites ofviewing availability of at least one of the multi-media expositions. Therelationship of associated site suppliers to the site provider is shownin FIG. 1 and detailed in the description of that figure. An example ofan associated site is described in the first scheduled embodimentconcerning an exercise instructor. The process of promotion isillustrated in the technical symposium embodiment.

LEAD: Not all submitters may have an exposition that fits the audienceof a provider site. Thus there is a need for a collection of data toprovide support for acceptance by either a software or human gatekeeperat the provider site. Thus the submitter web server is further selectedfor accepting and indexing each multi-media exposition based upon a leadof each multi-media exposition. Specifically, the lead is illustrated inthe breaking news embodiment and the instruction embodiment. Theexamples of the elements of a lead are shown in FIG. 7 and detailed inthe description of that figure. The relationship to other components ofthe current invention are shown and described in FIGS. 2 and 3.

LAYOUT WEB SERVER: Compensation indicates a minimum need for the siteprovider to recover expenses. This implies that expense recovery can begained from some element of society that would seek to have a messageattached to an exposition. A web server is needed that can receive,accept, record, index, layout, and transmit these messages and fundingsource media. Thus the provider site further comprises the addition of alayout web server selected for accepting and indexing a plurality offunding source media items from a plurality of funding source webterminals. Specifically, the layout web server is discussed in theinstruction embodiment. Elements of the layout web server are shown inFIG. 7 and detailed in the description of that figure. The relationshipof the layout web server to other components of the embodiments of thecurrent invention are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and described in thedetailed description of those figures.

ARCHIVE: To ensure a chronicle for business purposes the indexedmulti-media expositions must be recorded, saved, and stored in anarchive. The storage volume required to store all expositions isconsiderable and a filter may be used to limit the degree or selectionof exposition storage. This storage of a multitude of previously indexeddigital multi-media is best accomplished by a database software thattreats each exposition as an discrete object for internal programsequencing and retrieval. Since the indexing of multimedia expositionstakes place by the submitter web server and the layout web server mustmanipulate the exposition in order to layout the final product for theviewer, then it follows that the logical place for this archive toreside is in the layout web server. Thus the layout web server isfurther selected for accepting and recording multi-media expositions inan archive. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 and explained in the detaileddescription of FIG. 3. Specifically, the archive and its use areillustrated in the instruction embodiment.

LEAD CATALOG: The internet offers a entire universe of choice whichmakes it difficult for a viewer to choose one exposition from many evenon the same provider site. A catalog of the expositions that arecurrently live and available on the provider site is a necessity. Thusthe submitter web server is further selected to identify, interpret,sort, rank, and segregate the individual multi-media expositions intogroups within a catalog, based upon preselected criteria applied to thelead. An example of preselected criteria may be similarity of subject.Further, the viewer web server is selected for displaying themulti-media exposition groups and the multi-media exposition catalog onan internet site to a plurality of free agent viewers. This isillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and explained in the detailed descriptionsof FIGS. 2 and 3. Specifically, the catalog and its use are illustratedin the literary and performance embodiments. The formation of a catalogincludes the automatic accumulation and storage of past viewerpreferences in order to prioritize breaking news items. The lead for anews item may be received in the form of audio voice requiring computervoice recognition and language translation in order to register the newsitem to the correct catalog group.

BACKGROUND DATA: When dealing with breaking news that may affect largesegments of society, the perspective provided by background informationis a necessity. For example, the community warning embodiment can bemade more meaningful to those concerned for the safety of others by thedisplay of a map showing the location of a dangerous situationdownloaded from a site that supplies maps such as www.mapquest.com. Thusthe layout web server is further selected for retrieving, accepting andindexing a plurality of background media items from a plurality of webservers and terminals. Embedded links to background-data sites that areprovided either automatically or based on viewer selection are common inthe industry. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 and explained in thedetailed description of FIG. 3. Specifically, background data, source,and use are illustrated in the breaking news embodiment.

PREFERENCE LIST: Funding sources such as advertisers have no way ofpredicting the exact placement of their media, just as site providersare faced with a new mix of expositions each day. However, the fundingsources do develop guidelines or preferences for the use of their media.This guidance to the site provider is provided to the layout web server.The site provider hosts the layout web server to receive thesepreference lists from the funding source web terminals. Thus the layoutweb server is further selected for accepting and indexing each fundingsource media item based upon a preference list of each funding sourcemedia item. Specifically, preference lists are illustrated by thebreaking news embodiment and the literary embodiment. However,preference lists are well detailed in FIG. 6 and explained in thedetailed description of FIG. 6.

CATALOG USED FOR LAYOUT: The best advertising uses the juxtaposition ofadvertisements with associated subjects or media to reinforce theadvertiser's desired message. This rule is also true for all forms ofmessage promulgation by funding sources whether for profit or not. Thusthe layout web server is further selected to position each fundingsource media item in close proximity to the multi-media expositions of arelated catalog group based upon the preference list of each fundingsource media item. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 and explained in thedetailed description of FIG. 3. Specifically, the use of a catalog forlayout by the layout server is illustrated in the exercise embodiment.

PRICE VALUE: Without specific incentives placed upon the site providerthe funding source has little or no restrains on the use of the fundingsource media. By placing a price value on each item on the preferencelist the funding source provide an incentive to the site provider to usethe funding source media in the most profitable manner. Thus thepreference list further comprises price value of each preference item.Price value and its use is well illustrated in FIG. 6 and explained inthe detailed description of FIG. 6. Specifically, price value isillustrated in the instruction and literary embodiments.

BILLING CALCULATION: The financial base for all embodiments and businessmodels of the current invention is the funding source. The fundingsource provides the monetary support to pay the site provider based upona continuing agreement with the site provider. The funding source may bean individual, product advertiser, industrial firm, institution,governmental department or an agency of one of the aforementionedentities. The finding source may, in some cases, also be the siteprovider.

Continuing agreements between funding sources and site providers aretypical in the internet industry. For example, in current practice anadvertiser will pay a site provider based on the count of the number ofviewers to a particular web page where the advertiser's advertisement isdisplayed on the same web page with exposition material that is theprimary attraction of the viewer. The price value of each viewer isdependent upon the ability of the exposition material to attract aviewer that is compatible and beneficial to the goal of the advertiser.Some of the factors that may affect the ability of the expositionmaterial to attract compatible and beneficial viewers include subject,timeliness, presentation, action portrayal, time of day, and size ofadvertisement. These factors are also common in current advertisingpractice. Some agreements between advertisers and site providers alsoinclude additional payments to the provider for estimated duration ofview. Without periodic response from the viewer the transmission of anexposition ceases providing an end point to the metering of duration.Some agreements between advertisers and site providers includeincidental payments to the site provider for each viewer that “clicksthrough” from the provider page to an advertiser site or responds to adisplayed animation, question, or offer. Some agreements betweenadvertisers and site providers include incidental payments for eachviewer's email address captured due to a displayed advertisement. Thusit is common in the internet industry for the funding source to pay thesite provider based on viewer count times estimated average duration ofview times the price value per viewer plus incidental provisions. Thusthe following formula represents a simplification of the gross income tothe site provider which is also the billable expense to the fundingsource.

Site Provider Gross Income=Viewer Exposure Measure×Price Value/perViewer

Thus the means selected to calculate expense accruing to each fundingsource is further based on at least one selected price value and atleast one viewer exposure measure mathematically manipulated within acomputer accounting program. The calculation of a funding source bill isillustrated in FIG. 8 and explained in the detailed description of FIG.8. In addition, the calculation is also illustrated in the breaking newsembodiment.

COMPENSATION CALCULATION: It is an outcome from the teaching of theembodiments of the current invention that it is difficult for a siteprovider to estimate the attraction of viewers to a particular news itembefore the exposition. The site provider can eliminate this uncertaintyby an open offer to all reporters to income share. Thus the compensationto a reporter becomes a percentage of the gross income generated to thesite provider for the reporter's individual exposition item.

Reporter Compensation=Provider Gross Income×Provider Pay-out Percentage

Thus the means selected to calculate compensation accruing to eachindependent submitter is further based upon a portion of the sum ofexpenses accruing to the funding sources for the exposition of theindependent submitter mathematically manipulated within a computeraccounting program. Submitter compensation is illustrated in FIG. 7 andexplained in the detailed description of FIG. 7. Submitter compensationis illustrated in all the embodiments described below.

UNSCHEDULED: Breaking news knows no schedule. Its chief characteristicand attraction is that it is immediate. The immediacy has a profoundimpact on the site provider. The embodiments of the current inventionteach that the provider site must be prepared for instant acceptance ofa worthy exposition from a previously unknown submitter or reporter.Thus beginning of the exposition submission by the submitter isunscheduled by site provider. The process that makes unscheduledresponsiveness possible is shown in FIG. 2 and described in the detaileddescription of FIG. 2. Unscheduled expositions are illustrated in thebreaking news and community warning embodiments below.

UNSCHEDULED EXAMPLE 1 Breaking News Embodiment

In an embodiment of the present invention an internet site providermakes available to the general public a web news site that offersbreaking news stories much as a television news magazine. Such a newsprovider site specializes in fires, accidents, celebrity events,political events, environmental, and weather reports. The reporters thatsubmit breaking news stories to this site are independent agents thathave suitable equipment for generation and communication to an internetportal of media such as text, voice, audio, digital photos, drawings,and video. The sole advantage of a reporter may be that no otherpotential reporter is present at a particular location where news isbreaking and the need for a live on-site reporter is urgent to supportthe public's instant need to know.

For the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention a reporteris the individual that initiates the contact to the provider site andtherefore has a vested financial interest in the compensation earned bythe exposition. The reporter is the individual that communicates theexistence of the potential for the exposition to the site provider andmonitors the arrival of the compensation figures to gage either thegrowth or decline of audience interest for the exposition. The reporterpresents a live audio or video report in real time to the web siteprovider as a continuing exposition of the news event in progress.

For the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention, the term“real time” is defined to mean the apparent continuous communicationbetween two pieces of electronic equipment despite generally invisibledelays due to source spooling, packet segmentation, packet sending,transmission queuing, reception storage, reception re-sequencing andother electronic data processes.

For the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention anexposition is a live, original, news item, report, feature, discussion,lesson, instruction, demonstration, review, infomercial, feature,performance, or presentation offered and transmitted to a provider sitefor compensation. The exposition may or may not involve the submitter asa participant in the exposition. An exposition may be preformed by asingle participant or multiple participants just as a sporting event mayhave multiple reporters participating in the play by play coveragetogether. The equipment operating expense of a single channel or page tothe site provider is minimal. Thus the cessation of the exposition isleft to the reporter to judge either that further exposition isprofitable or unprofitable based on the cumulative compensationtransmitted to the reporter by the site provider.

The viewers are free agents, media consumers, who have selected thissite to view the latest breaking news stories. As free agents theselection by viewers of a particular news story and the branching tothat news item on the site is made based upon their personal criteriaand preferences. The incoming news item may be augmented by the siteprovider in numerous ways including translation of the reporter's words,use of a virtual synthetic news anchor for introduction, addition offile footage and addition of background information. In the embodimentsof the present invention the service site is offered free to viewersbecause the monetary source is advertisers that pay fees to the providermuch as advertisers fund a television news report. Thus the fundingsource for this embodiment is an advertiser of replacement windows thatis billed for both submitter compensation and value added services bythe site provider. These value added services comprise administration,hosting, layout, and billing services by the site provider. The fundingsource media is an advertisement with a picture of a window and thecompany name. The procedure is that advertisements are submitted to thesite provider for view on the provider site and are positioned adjacentto and on the same screen, page, channel, or subsidiary site and page asappropriate breaking news stories. The reporters are compensated fortheir contributions to the site based on the exposure generated based onmeasures comprising viewer hits, viewer downloads, viewer duration,viewer responses, time of day, type of media, subject matter, and othermeasures. The advertisers are charged, in kind, a higher rate to coverboth reporter compensation and provider fees based on equivalent viewermeasures. Thus the advertisers are the monetary source for this businessmodel. The difference between the compensation to the reporters and thefees paid by the advertisers is gross income for the provider. Thus anequitable and beneficial result is created for all parties due to theattributes of the embodiments of the present invention.

REPORTER SPECIFIC: Thus the submitter comprises a reporter, further themulti-media exposition is an unscheduled news and information report,

further site provider comprises a news collection and disseminationagency,further provider site comprises a news and information internet sitecontrolled and operated by the provider,further the lead comprises subject, identity, location, and paymentaccount,further funding source comprises an advertising agency,further the funding source media item comprises an advertisement,further the metering mechanism comprises at least one means chosen frommeans to measure number of viewers, means selected to determine time ofday of news and information report downloaded from the provider site bythe viewers and means selected to determine time of day of the durationof view of the news and information report downloaded from the providersite by the viewers, whereby the metering mechanism calculation meansselected for utilization of the measurements and determinations toprovide for compensation determination for the reporters,wherein the criteria for choice among the means is based upon theability of the chosen software resident in the metering mechanism tometer a particular measure and the inclusion of that measure in thepreference list of the funding source,further whereby the metering mechanism is selected for communication ofthe compensation to the reporters as the reporters continue submissionof the news and information reports.

UNSCHEDULED EXAMPLE 2 Community Warning Embodiment

In another embodiment a site provider specializes in highway and trafficissues. The site provider provides a large number of simultaneousmulticast channels after the teaching of this current invention thatdisplay real time highway activity as contributed by individualsubmitters acting as good citizens to uphold the public good as well asacting as reporters. The funding sources are various groups againstdrunk drivers, automobile insurance companies, and the State HighwayPatrol that also monitors the site. The site is profitable to theprovider and a short easy-access code for potential reporters is widelyadvertised. For example a submitter to this site is a housewifereturning from shopping when she observes a driver recklessly enter abusy highway from a drinking establishment. As the reckless drivingcontinues she uses her cell-phone to dial the easy-access code toinitiate communication with the site provider to report the driver whileat the same time becoming an on-site reporter. Her cell phone number issufficient for identification and the phone automatically furnishes theGPS location. Her cell phone account is sufficient financial accountidentification and will be credited with any compensation due. Thus, thenecessary elements of a lead are automatically established with no humanresponse required from the site provider. The process flow that supportsthis automatic acceptance is shown in FIG. 2. After the lead isestablished she receives from the provider site a verbal acceptancemessage and a tone signal as an indication of approval of her expositionor report multicast. The provider site indexes her report by assigningit a unique index number and enters it in a catalog that is posted to aweb page of the provider site. As she begins her exposition commentary,she places the cell phone on the dashboard of her car with the camerafacing forward and follows the erratic driver at a safe distance. Thusreal-time broadband of the errant driver is initiated for multicast.Many viewers have their internet browsers set to alert them as to thepresence of such a situation being multicast from this provider sitecatalog. Other viewers may limit their alert to only traffic situationsin their local area. As the route followed by the reckless driver takesthe reporter further from her home, her tendency to discontinue thepursuit is overcome by monetary incentive. The display on the back ofthe cell phone provides a real-time readout of the monetary result ofthe number of viewers that have joined the multicast. The number ofviewers are continuously tallied and factored into the continuouslyupdated calculation of compensation by the site provider. Soonsufficient cumulative income to her account has been generated to payfor her current purchases. As the reckless driver is apprehended by theHighway Patrol it is in their certain knowledge that the action iswarranted by the record of the multicast and a large number of remotewitnesses. The housewife feels satisfaction from having prevented apossible accident resulting in the injury or death of an innocent personby the erratic driver and the validation that monetary reward brings.

Numerous other traffic reporters provide expositions to sites for thesame or allied providers. The summary of these reports is used foressential driver information. For example the GPS location of a varietyof individually reported traffic dangers and tie-ups is filtered andcommunicated to a driver information and communication system to informeach subscription driver of hazards local to their planned route.

SCHEDULED: Beyond breaking news, most activities of human experience andinterest draw a larger audience if scheduled. For the submitter and thesite provider a larger audience means a large compensation and income.Thus the teaching of the present invention is that it is efficient andbeneficial for the beginning of the exposition submission by thesubmitter to be scheduled at a day and time mutually preselected by thesubmitter and the site provider.

SCHEDULED EXAMPLE 1 Instruction Embodiment

In a further embodiment of the current invention, a site provider hasregistered a provider site with a unique domain name that emphasizesthat the provider site specializes in the production and presentation offitness related expositions. The fully computerized provider site iscapable of hosting numerous multi-media expositions at the same time. Inthis embodiment the submitter is an exercise instructor. The exerciseinstructor desires to use a fitness site to distribute an exposition ofa live, teaching demonstration and exercise feature to a multitude ofviewers. Previous to the multicast the instructor has contacted the siteand the site provider has scheduled a multicast of the exposition at agiven time on a specific day of the week for 24 weeks.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the provider site is generallyautomated in terms of its multicast and accounting functions. Thisautomation is an indication that although occupying an importantmiddleman position between the reporter and viewers, the markup upon theoriginal material provided by the submitter is substantially lower thancharged by other reporting venues such as television, newspapers, ormagazines. These other venues have higher costs of distribution of theirinformation. For example, the income of reporters, editors, and writersfor a major news-magazine may be less than ten percent of thepublisher's gross income. The same measure applied to the businessstructure of the current invention will likely find that the reporter'scompensation may be approximately one half of the provider's grossincome for the reporter's exposition. The effect of this low markup islikely to create a multitude of internet venue sites for many interestgroups.

Arrangements for scheduled multicasting facilities are based on theinitial contact of the site by the exercise instructor in the form of alead. This current invention teaches that this initial offer by way of alead by the submitter and this acceptance by the provider site is anecessary and integral step in the compensation process. The exerciseinstructor may be requested by the producer site to stipulate in thelead that the material to be multicast is original and free ofencumbrances such as trademarks or copyrighted material owned by othersand that the material to be broadcast is free from fraudulent content.The general subject or headline of the exposition, commentary,instruction class, or editorial is submitted by the exercise instructorto the provider site. The site provider assigns the exposition ascheduled time. Regular multicasts on a daily or weekly basis may bescheduled. The exercise instructor also communicates to the web site acredit number for deposit of compensation to the instructor's account bythe site provider. The teaching of the current invention is that thedeposit of actual monetary finds for an exposition can be carried out inreal time due to the continuously updated nature of the compensation.Since the exercise instructor terminal is continuously updated, then thecontinuously updated of a credit account need not be delayed, but may beautomatically deposited as well. Other deposit of actual findarrangements may include deposit at the end of the multicast or atregular periods such as weekly or monthly. It is likely that the siteprovider would delay actual payment of compensation to the reporteruntil the site provider had been paid by an advertiser, other monetarysupporter, or funding source.

The web site promotes the show by previews and ads on related associatedsites as being available at a specific time each day. At the appointedtime the instructor initiates the connection to the provider site andbegins a number of exercise routines. The funding source has transmittedan advertisement to the layout web server that then combines theadvertisement with the exercise exposition. As the instructor beginswith a monologue describing the preselected set of routines for the day,a faithful cadre of viewers activates their viewer web terminal monitorsand begins to view the multicast on the provider site. This initialviewer group is counted by the metering mechanism and a continuouscumulative sum of earnings is calculated and sent to the receivingmonitor at the instructor's initiating web terminal. Since exerciseenthusiasts are a substantial and growing segment of the population,many providers of goods and services to this segment are eager to havetheir wares promulgated to this audience. The communication of anexercise routine requires a substantial portion of the screen for theviewer to enjoy, emulate, and perhaps participate. Since the viewer'sscreen is somewhat rationed in terms of area available foradvertisements, the value for access to this audience is high, and thusthe amount charged to the advertisers is high. Correspondingly, thecompensation per viewer to the instructor is high. The calculation mayinclude allowance for the number of viewers, the duration of view, thetime of day, the value of the media, the scarcity of the screenbillboard space, allowance for multiple participants within a singlepresentation, and multiple sites within a single presentation. Multiplesites involved in a single exposition would present additionalcoordination efforts for the site provider and may raise the portion ofgross income from the funding source retained by the provider.

As the exercise routine continues, other interested but late viewerscome onto the site and join the view while others drop out to handlelocal distractions such as phone calls or instant messaging. Still thecontinuous and cumulative calculation of the number of hits on the siteis used to generate and communicate to the instructor the cumulativeearnings of the multicast. This communication of compensation providesan incentive to the instructor to continue the broadcast. If somesuperior exercise instructor lures away the viewers, the instructor isinformed because the accrued compensation displayed by the submitter webterminal has ceased to increase. The instructor then would cease tosubmit the exposition, thus saving time and effort. On the other hand, alarge number of viewers would be reflected in a growing cumulativecompensation that would provide an incentive to the instructor tocontinue with the exposition.

As the exposition continues the layout web server records the expositionand stores it in an archive. This archive is then available for latercombination with subsequent expositions from the same instructor andsale as edited exercise video to the mutual profit of both site providerand exercise instructor.

The site provider on behalf of the submitter may offer to viewers aninternet e-mail address for responses and questions during theexposition. Further, some viewers may choose to implement a duplexinternet connection with the provider site. These duplex connectionswill include text messages, audio, or real time video from the viewer tothe site. In this embodiment of the present invention this duplex videomay show the viewer following the exercise routine, or performing theroutine with a misunderstanding of the technique to be performed. Theseduplex videos may be combined into a viewer matrix and sent by the siteas feedback to the reporter's monitor for active, real time appraisal ofthe quality and responsiveness of the viewer audience. Individual viewererrors of performance may be remedied by the instructor. Since not allviewers can be counseled individually within a real time multicast, anincentive is created for early site sign-on by viewers vying for suchduplex connections.

Between routines the exercise instructor pauses to ask for questions andresponses from the multicast audience. Some responses may be by email,others responses may be made to the provider site and relayed to theinstructor. The responses through the site may be more valuable to theinstructor. Such direct provider site responses tallied by the meteringmechanism may be given a high price value by the finding source. Theactive participation of the viewers is likely to provide moreopportunity to be influenced by the advertising material. Thus viewerresponse would provide additional income from finding sources andadvertisers. With prior arrangement between the site and the instructor,mention may be made of the advertiser's product within the presentationof the reporting feature. For example the exercise instructor mayprovide a positive mention of a personal heart rate monitor or printedinstruction manual. Such a mention might merit an additional preferenceitem and a greater compensation per hit during that segment of theexposition, presentation, or feature as this additional cost is passedon to the advertiser who has agreed to these terms beforehand. It isalso possible that the low overhead of the site provider may create anunderstanding by advertisers that the nominal charges for additionalitems such as product mentions are reasonable and justifiable based oncommon published industry price values.

If the exercise instructor is well known, the exposition may be ofparticular value. If the particular routines or moves by the exerciseinstructor are known in advance to have particular value, then theprovider may charge admission to the multicast. Such a monetary feecharged a viewer assures funding sources that the prospective vieweraudience has a high level of commitment. A method of assuring premierviewers may involve the registration of the viewer for direct contact bya funding source. For example a marketer of exercise material orservices would benefit from having viewers register to view a specialexercise exposition by a nationally respected instructor.

SCHEDULED: Thus the submitter comprises an exercise instructor,

further multi-media exposition is a scheduled exercise instructionclass,further provider comprises a health and fitness site provider,further provider site comprises a fitness internet site controlled andoperated by the health and fitness site provider,further the lead comprises subject, identity, location, and paymentaccount,further the exercise instructor is scheduled to begin the exerciseinstruction class at a specific date and time based upon an agreementwith the health and fitness site provider,further the funding source comprises a manufacturer of exerciseequipment,further the funding source media comprises an exercise equipmentadvertisement,further the metering mechanism comprises at least one means chosen frommeans to measure number of viewers, means selected to determine time ofday of health news and information report downloaded from the providersite by the viewers and means selected to determine time of day of theduration of view of the news and information report downloaded from theprovider site by the viewers, whereby the metering mechanism calculationmeans selected for utilization of the measurements and determinations toprovide for compensation determination for the exercise instructor,whereby the criteria for choice of means is based upon the ability ofthe chosen software resident in the metering mechanism to meter aparticular measure and the inclusion of that measure in the preferencelist of the finding source,further whereby the metering mechanism is selected for communication ofthe compensation to the exercise instructor during the continuingsubmission of the exercise instruction class.

SCHEDULED EXAMPLE 2 Literary Embodiment

In a still further embodiment of the current invention the submitter isan author that desires to report on the attributes of a new novelpublished by the author. The author's goal is to generate orders throughestablished bookstores without a publisher. The author has used theinternet to access a web page presented by a site provider that featuresliterary subjects. This web page lists the attributes in a submitter andan exposition sought by the site provider. The web site provider hasenlisted for funding sources a marketer of cosmetics and a retail chainas funding sources. The author submits a lead and is assigned afavorable day and time. The web site provider displays a web pagecatalog of the various subjects, times, and authors that are to befeatured in the near future on the site to draw viewers. The expositionof the novel draws an audience of over five thousand viewers for thetwenty-minute exposition. The preference list of the two funding sourceis additive since funding source media was shown by both throughout theexposition and book review. Each viewer earns the site provider $0.20.The site provider supplies a web address for questions to be asked ofthe author by the viewers on the exposition web page. Over five hundredquestions are submitted by viewers earning a price value of $2.00 eachfrom the advertiser for this evidence of viewer attention, advertisementexposure, and viewer e-mail address capture. As the exposition nears itsend, two hundred viewers click through on the banner advertisement tothe cosmetic product web page earning a price value of $0.50 each. Thesite provider and the author spilt the $2,100. Subsequent to theexposition, orders of the novel from local bookstores exceed the numberavailable from the first printing.

SCHEDULED EXAMPLE 3 Technical Symposium

In a still further embodiment of the current invention, four scientistsas submitters arrange an exposition in the form of a panel discussion ata specific time on an advanced field of physics. The scientists hadprearranged with their professional organization to sponsor theexposition by providing a list of 2,500 e-mail addresses of current andprospective members and other interested parties and companies. The siteprovider schedules the exposition and uses the list for promotionpurposes by sending each of the 2,500 and e-mail announcement. Due tothe narrow field the site provider is only able to enlisted twoadvertisers of laboratory equipment from its database of marketers, andonly advertises the exposition on ten other associated sites.

The subject only attracts a few hundred fellow scientist viewers. Tokeep the multi-media exposition streaming to the viewer web terminals,each of the scientist viewers must strike a key, make a sound, or movethe mouse cursor every two minutes or other period selected by the siteprovider. Beyond that response the scientists all actively participatewith e-mail responses and questions that continue for a four-hourexposition. The exposition is ended when the compensation numberstransmitted in real time from the web provider indicate a drop inaudience. This two hour technical discussion cost each of the twoproduct advertisers and the professional organization $2,000. One thirdof the $6,000 gross income to the site provider was earned by thescientist in compensation. The multicast gave excellent exposure for theprofessional organization that subsequently signed up many new members.The product exposure of four hours to an otherwise unreachable nichemarket audience for the laboratory equipment marketers only cost eachmarketer $2,000. The web site provider netted $4,000 for itsannouncement and web site multicast services.

SCHEDULED EXAMPLE 4 Business to Business Exposition

In a still further embodiment of the present invention a manufacturer ofelectronic components is the site provider, web host, and fundingsource. The submitters are independent engineers and technicians withinan industry that is scattered across multiple locations around theworld. These engineers are working with diverse applications of theseelectronic components beyond the knowledge of the provider. The viewersare other engineers and technicians interested in acquiring applicationspecific news, data, methods, training, and information. In thisembodiment the host site is offered free to the viewers without outsideadvertising because the manufacturer benefits by increased purchases ofelectronic components and therefore fulfills the roll of funding source.The future sales of the manufacturer's product are likely to increase inproportion to the interest generated within the multicast viewers byeach reporter. Thus it is equitable that the site provider compensateeach reporter for their contributions to the site based on the exposuregenerated in terms of number of viewers and other viewer exposuremeasures. The viewers enjoy the benefit of new technical knowledge thatwould not be available without the submitter's compensation due to theteaching of this invention. Thus an equitable and beneficial financialresult is created for all parties due to the apparent attributes of thepresent invention that include initialization, metering, calculation,and real time transmission of compensation.

SCHEDULED EXAMPLE 5 Performance Embodiment

In a still further scheduled embodiment of the present invention, thesite provider is a well-known musician. The provider site has a domainname that reflects a talent search theme. Funding sources are recordcompanies and marketers of musical instruments that advertise on theprovider site. Submitters are independent amateur musicians andperformers that have written original music unpublished and unperformedelsewhere. Hundreds of musicians are automatically scheduled everyday bythe provider site on a first-come first-served basis for premium timeslots on multiple hosted channels. The viewers for this embodiment mayonly sample one packet of streaming exposition before moving to the nextas each viewer shops for the performance that is of greatest interest.For this reason advertisers prefer to have their advertisementspositioned similarly across multiple web pages or channels within aprovider site. Also because of this page hopping by viewers, the pricevalue for one viewer for one steaming multi-media packet of a durationmay be relatively small. However, the advertiser is assured a sufficientduration of view for comprehension for each viewer over multipleexpositions. In a variation of this embodiment the site provider may atthe scheduled time feature a catalog depicting multiple live expositionson a single page. From a live catalog the viewer may view many livesamples before selecting the full screen version of a performance. Inyet another variation of this embodiment, expositions are scheduled toperform at three different subsequent times. Viewer's preferences forexpositions may be logged and registered to allow rapid selection ofonly those items of interest during subsequent sessions. After eachperformance those expositions that have earned the most compensationadvance to the next scheduled time slot. Some submitting musiciansenlist their friends and relatives to attempt to influence the meteringmechanism results in their favor by loading the viewing audience fortheir musical exposition. By the second round of this three-roundvariation of this performance embodiment, the selection of thousands ofviewers will easily overwhelm any possible solicited audience. By theend of the third round of performances, the best of the musicians willhave received thousands of dollars of compensation and a degree ofrecognition otherwise impossible to achieve as an amateur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the relationship of the independent entitieswithin an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the current invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the components of an embodiment of the currentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the media and multi-media of an embodimentof the current invention.

FIG. 5 is a monetary data flow diagram of an embodiment of the currentinvention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a funding source preference list with findingsource media items.

FIG. 7 is an instantaneous example of a metering and compensationcalculation spreadsheet for an individual submitter.

FIG. 8 is an instantaneous example of a metering and billing calculationspreadsheet for a single finding source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the independent entities of the internet news compensationsystem. The provider site is the central operating entity of theinternet news compensation system. The provider site is the gatekeeperfor the material that is hosted on the site. The provider site alsoprovides indexing, catalog hosting, tracking, metering, compensationaccounting, billing, communication services, and multi-media hosting.The submitters supply the multi-media expositions that are the basis ofthe products that are hosted. The viewers select among the availableproducts. The funding sources provide the financial fuel for theprocess. Background data suppliers may be either commercial or freesites that supply information selected to broaden the aspects of amulti-media exposition. Even though these are independent entities theteaching of this current invention is that the submitters, the fundingsources, the viewers, the background data suppliers and the associatedsite suppliers all communicate and interact in real time with the siteprovider as dictated by the site provider.

FIG. 2 shows that for this embodiment there are three entities thatoperate within the internet environment. The process flow starts asindicated with a transmission of a lead from a submitter web terminal tothe provider site. Upon receipt of the lead by the provider site theprovider site either accepts or rejects the lead. The criteria foracceptance or rejection may be due to the subject matter or the locationof the submitter designated in the lead being incompatible with theoffering goals of the provider site. For example a breaking news sitewould reject a human-interest subject, or a car accident in a Canadianlocation would be outside the audience coverage of a California siteprovider. With acceptance of the lead, the lead is indexed and catalogedand a request for the multi-media exposition is sent to the submitterweb terminal. The index process may assign or use a unique designator tothe exposition. The index process may also use an inherently uniquedesignator within the lead such as a cell phone number or a web address.The submitter web terminal responds to the approval and request for theexposition by initiation of broadband data transmission by the internetto the provider site. The provider site receives the data comprising amulti-media exposition. Process steps shown in the dotted block number 1comprise the activities of the submitter web server. After receipt ofthe multi-media exposition, the catalog is hosted for download, display,and item selection by viewer web terminals. The catalog host shares adirect link for continuous electronic communication with the Multi-mediaExpositions Host. These two process steps shown in the dotted blocknumber 2 comprise the activities of the viewer web server. A selectionof an item by a viewer web terminal from the catalog triggers thedownload and direct viewing of the selected multi-media exposition fromthe group of multi-media expositions hosted on the provider site. Theselection and its subsequent download initiates tracking of themulti-media exposition based upon its prior index. The viewing is thenmetered based upon one or more viewer exposure measures. The meteringinformation is used as the basis for calculating compensation, which istransmitted to the submitter web terminal. The process steps shown inthe dotted block number 3 comprise the activities of the computerizedmetering mechanism. This transmission of the compensation ends theprovider site process, but the process is iterative and is updatedcontinuously during the multi-media exposition transmitted by thesubmitter web terminal.

FIG. 3 shows product flow between the four major components comprisingthe provider site of the current invention and their internal elements.Each of the four major components is electronically connected to and inreal time communication with all other components as indicated by thefour short connecting lines. The large arrows indicate the flow of themulti-media expositions. The submitter server is comprised of webconnections, leads, and multi-media expositions. The multi-mediaexpositions are accepted, indexed, and cataloged according toinformation provided in each lead. The layout web server comprises webconnections, funding source preference lists, funding source media, andbackground data, which are accepted, indexed, and combined with themulti-media expositions into a layout. Background data may be requestedby the submitter or supplied independently by the site provider tostrengthen a weak exposition with low viewer measures, or amplify anexposition of some important event. The layout server records themulti-media expositions into an archive. The archive is available forsale to other media such as television. The archive may also be used byan automated gatekeeper to prevent the use in an exposition of apreviously recorded exposition or copyrighted material. The layout ofthe funding source media on the multi-media expositions is dictated bythe preferences. The combined layout is then transmitted to the viewerserver. The viewer web server hosts a multitude of viewer webconnections and a catalog for online display. The viewers select fromthe multitude of multi-media expositions listed in the catalog. The fiveupward arrows illustrate the viewers' selection choices. The linesintersecting the viewer arrows indicate the interception, monitoring,and metering of the viewers by the metering mechanism. The meteringmechanism tracks and meters the viewers as represented by the clockillustrating the time, date, and duration of view, and the counterillustrating the number of viewers, which shows that 13,751 viewers havedownloaded and observed a particular multi-media exposition. Themetering mechanism utilizes metering data to calculate both submittercompensation and funding source billing in real time.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of the multi-media and media from the submitterweb terminals to the viewer web terminals. The arrows with an “E”represent the flow of the multi-media expositions through the system.The expositions enter the system from submitter web terminals and areuploaded to the submitter web server. The expositions are thentransmitted to the layout web server, whereby the funding source media“M” are transmitted to the layout web server by funding sourceterminals. Further, background data terminals transmit background data“D” to the layout web server. The funding source media and backgrounddata items are matched to each multi-media exposition based on subjectmatter and funding source preferences, thereby forming completed layouts“L”. The completed layouts “L” are then transmitted to the viewer webserver and further to the viewer web terminals. The computerizedmetering mechanism receives and transmits tracking data “T” from and tothe viewer web server. The short lines indicate the electronicconnections between major elements. Although separate computer serversand mechanisms are described as components of the provider site,substantially all the servers, metering mechanisms, calculationmechanisms, and internet communication devices described within theprovider site may be incorporated into a single computer web serverhardware unit.

FIG. 5 shows the monetary data flow communicating submitter compensation“C” and funding source expense billing “B”. The metering mechanismcalculates submitter compensation and transmits the compensation “C” tothe submitter web server, whereby the compensation “C” is furthertransmitted to submitter web terminals. Additionally, the meteringmechanism calculates funding source expense billing “B” and transmitsthe expense billing “B” to the layout web server, whereby the expensebilling “B” is further transmitted to funding source terminals.

FIG. 6 shows the structure that assigns price values to preferencecategories and preference groups. Three viewer exposure measures areindicated by a double asterisk: exposure per viewer, click through, andaddress capture. The example is for a finding source called XYZ Windows,Inc. The preference list for this example company is listed in threecolumns. The funding source media item in this example is a windowadvertisement. It is shown at the bottom of the spreadsheet. The fundingsource preference categories are comprised of subject of the exposition,geographic coverage, time of day, layout placement of the media item onthe screen, and viewer response. The preference groups for thepreference categories are listed in the center column. A price value perviewer is assigned individually by group within each preference categoryin the right column. For example, if the layout places the fundingsource media item as a marquee, the media item will scroll across thebottom of the screen during the multi-media exposition. As a fundingsource media item is displayed to viewers with each preference-matchedmulti-media exposition, then the price value for that preference isapplied for compensation calculation. In this example the Marquee layoutwill cost the funding source $0.05 for each metered viewer. Price valuesare generally set competitively within an industry. Various auction andreverse auction methods may be used by the site provider for theestablishment of preference price values with funding sources.

FIG. 7 shows an application of the cost structure for a single submitterof a single exposition. The costs shown are an instantaneous snapshot,however the exposition is ongoing and live. Thus, for this example, thecosts are assumed to continue to accrue after this snapshot until theexposition is terminated. The submitter is identified with initials,A.J.P. The lead information submitted by the individual submitter isdesignated with an asterisk. The example shows the data items in thelead to be the submitter's name, web address, GPS location, credit cardnumber, the subject of the exposition, and the coverage, in this case“Dallas Local.” The second line shows the unique exposition indexnumber, 12,175 that has been assigned by the site provider upon approvalof the lead. The calculation spreadsheet includes the date, the time thelead was approved, the current time, funding source preferences, fundingsource preference price values for each group, and the cumulative numberof metered viewers. During the approximately fifty minute exposition3747 viewers have, thus far, been metered. Note that the time is currentbased on the continuing live transmission of the exposition. The fundingsource expense of $1,236.51 is calculated based upon the viewer exposuremeasure of price value per metered viewer. The group price values arebased on the preferences of FIG. 6. The compensation percentage split ispredetermined by the provider base upon market conditions. In thisexample the split between the site provider and the individual submitteris fifty percent each or $618.26.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an instantaneous snapshot of a metering andbilling calculation spreadsheet for a single funding source, XYZWindows, Inc. Four discrete expositions indexed by their expositionindex numbers for two sequential days are shown. Four preference groupsfrom FIG. 6 for this particular funding source are applied to the fourexpositions. This spreadsheet shows that no viewers chose either a clickthough or and address capture response since these two preferences areomitted. Thus, in this case the viewer exposure measure is thecumulative number of viewers. For each exposition the billingcalculation spreadsheet shows the current date and time, individualexposition index numbers, funding source preferences and price values,and number of metered viewers. The funding source expense per expositionis calculated based upon price values per metered viewer. The totalexpense to the funding source is the sum of the expenses accruing to thefour expositions that exposed viewers to the funding source media. Thisexposure took the form of banner, sidebar, and marquee placements on theexposition layout. The exposure was constant for all four expositions.Note that the first two expositions 12,175 and 12,124 are still live andin progress, while the submitters 11,832 and 11,854 were concluded theprevious day and these latter totals are complete. If all theexpositions were to be completed in this instant, the spreadsheetindicates that the funding source will be billed for $4,860.59 forexposure to 12,399 total viewers (3747+2168+4794+1690).

FIG. 8 also illustrates the potential variability in earnings betweenthe four expositions. It shows the difficulty of predicting the earningpotential of a particular multi-media exposition. A fixed compensationschedule for multi-media expositions is financially hazardous when somany viewer interest uncertainties and price value combinations coexist.These uncertainties alone are indicators for a value added structure forsite providers after the teaching of the current invention. Residualrights to recordings of momentous events captured from multi-mediaexpositions and stored in archive further reinforce a value addedstructure for site providers.

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of the embodiments of the current invention thefollowing definitions apply.

A web server is a computer connected to the internet or world wide weband to other computers possessing software programs and hardwareaccessories that make it autonomous for continuously receiving,compiling, sorting, and transmitting digital broadband data frommultiple sites. Examples are mainframe or PC computer servers.

A submitter web server is the gatekeeper to the provider site. Itapproves or rejects the lead from submitters and authorizes submittaltransmission. This gatekeeper function may be reinforced with learningprograms and artificial intelligence algorithms. Multi-media comprises acombination of audio and visual images. Many computers, PDAs, and cellphones may be capable of only capturing and transmitting a series orsequence of still pictures. When accompanied by live commentary thesestaggered snapshots constitute multi-media.

An independent submitter is an individual or group who voluntarilyoffers to submit an exposition to a host internet site in exchange forcompensation.

The term voluntary means without influence on an individual except forthe incentive of compensation.

A web terminal is an electronic device capable of image capture,internet multi-media transmission, internet reception, and informationdisplay. Examples of a web terminal include microprocessor driventransmission equipment and camera equipment multi-media capable such asa personal computer, laptop, palm top, PDA, internet television set-topbox, camera cell phone, satellite phone, digital communicationcamcorder, etc.

A free agent viewer is an individual with a multiplicity of options forinternet media selection, downloading, and viewing by use of a webterminal.

A viewer web server is a computer that is capable of transmittingmultiple multi-media streams for multi-cast to multiple internet viewerweb terminals.

A metering mechanism is an autonomous software application installed andrunning on a web server or other internet or local area networkconnected computer utilized as a system component of the provider sitewith programmed capabilities for data tracking, monitoring, calculation,and communication.

A viewer exposure measure is the criteria by which a provider determinesthe availability of a multi-media stream to a single viewer. Examples ofa viewer exposure measure comprise number of viewers, individualduration of view, average duration of view, individual viewer feedbackor response, and average viewer feedback, viewer response or anycombination.

Compensation is the monetary amount awarded for an offered, accepted,submitted, and multicast exposition. Compensation is subject toadjustment prior to payment for taxes, etc.

Payment is the actual monetary earnings paid to an independent submitterin the form of, but not limited to, direct deposit to a bank account, acredit to a credit card account, or an electronic credit to anindividual account with a service provider (cell phone account, internetaccount, ISP account, etc.)

Multicast is the transmission of a single broadband data stream tomultiple viewer web terminals in real time.

A site provider is an individual, corporation, or agency, eitherfor-profit or not-for-profit, that has planned, organized andimplemented an internet site to service the general public.

A provider site is an internet site with multiple pages and multiplemulti-media streams implemented to provide news and information.

A download is a packet or stream of data requested by and transferred toa web terminal or server from another web server or web terminal.

Indexing means providing a unique identity and data position within adatabase of similar items. Indexing treats all associated data from anindividual as an object.

Tracking is the maintenance of identity, record of location, and recordof use of a data item as it is received, transmitted, stored, and viewedthrough a plurality of hardware and software data processing entities.

A preference list is the criteria stipulated by a funding source for theuse of that finding source media item by the provider site. A preferencelist comprises association preferences, layout preferences, and pricevalues.

Association preferences are the criteria for association of fundingsource media with an exposition and the price value for the satisfactionof those criteria. Examples of association preferences comprise subject,location, or time of day or any combination thereof.

Layout preferences are the criteria for layout and presentation offunding source media integral with an exposition screen and the pricevalue for the satisfaction of those criteria.

Examples of layout preference criteria comprise banner ads, sidebarvideo, and ticker tapes.

Price value is the monetary amount offered to be paid by a fundingsource for the performance of a service specified in general terms by apreference, preference category, or preference group.

1. An internet news compensation system comprising: a computer netserver to accept, index, and present for view news and information itemssubmitted by a plurality of individual reporters, and further to trackand meter the news and information items chosen by a plurality ofindependent viewers and further to calculate compensation due each ofthe plurality of individual reporters based upon at least one viewerexposure measure of and accruing to each of the submitted news andinformation items.
 2. The Internet news compensation system of claim 1where the computer net server comprises: a reporter net server to acceptInternet media, source index, and store the plurality of news andinformation items submitted by the plurality of individual reportersusing the Internet; a viewer net server to display the news andinformation items on a provider Internet site to the plurality ofindependent viewers; and a computer metering mechanism to track the newsand information items chosen by the plurality of independent viewers andfurther to calculate the compensation due each of the plurality ofindividual reporters based upon a number of the plurality of independentviewers accruing to each of the submitted news and information items. 3.The Internet news compensation system of claim 2 where the computermetering mechanism further meters a duration of view by the plurality ofindependent viewers and calculates a further compensation due to theplurality of individual reporters based upon the duration of viewaccruing to each of the submitted news and information items.
 4. TheInternet news compensation system of claim 2 where the computer meteringmechanism is further meters a download of data and media by theplurality of independent viewers and calculates a further compensationdue to the plurality of individual reporters based upon the incidence ofthe download of data and media accruing to each of the submitted newsand information items.
 5. The Internet news compensation system of claim2 where each of the news and information items comprises a lead and amedia report and where the reporter net server comprises an item sorterto identify, interpret, sort, rank, and segregate the items into groupswithin a catalog, based upon pre-selected criteria applied to the lead.6. The Internet news compensation system of claim 2, further comprisingan advertiser server to accept Internet media, source index, and store aplurality of advertisements submitted by a plurality of advertisersusing the Internet, electronically communicating with the reporter netserver and the viewer net server.
 7. The Internet news compensationsystem of claim 6 where the computer metering mechanism comprises acalculator to calculate a cost to advertisers based upon the number ofthe plurality of independent viewers and the sum duration of viewaccruing to the news and information items in close proximity to atleast one of the advertisements.
 8. The Internet news compensationsystem of claim 4 where the viewer net server comprises a positioner toselect and position background information and file media to be in closeproximity to news of a related catalog group.
 9. The Internet newscompensation system of claim 2 where the computer metering mechanismcomprises a compensation communicator to communicate the compensation toeach the plurality of individual reporters in real time as thecompensation increases.
 10. The Internet news compensation system ofclaim 2 where the viewer net server comprises an availabilitycommunicator to communicate to other pre-selected associated Internetsites an availability for viewing of at least one of the submitted newsand information items.
 11. The Internet news compensation system ofclaim 2 where the system comprises an adjuster to adjust a price valueof one of the plurality of independent viewers based on a track of theviewer through the Internet site and pre-selected criteria.
 12. A methodof Internet news compensation, comprising: registering a providerInternet site; providing a reporter server to accept, source index, andstore a plurality of news and information items submitted by a pluralityof Internet reporters; specifying a preface lead to at least one of theplurality of news and information items where the news and informationitem comprises a lead and a media report; providing the reporter serverwith an item sorter to identify, interpret, sort, rank, and segregatethe plurality of news and information items into groups within a catalogbased upon pre-selected criteria applied to the lead; providing anadvertiser server with an advertisement sorter to identify, interpret,sort, and segregate submitted advertisements into groups within acatalog based upon pre-selected criteria; providing a viewer server todisplay the news and information items, the advertisements, the groupsand the catalog on an Internet site to a plurality of free agentviewers; and providing a computer metering mechanism to trackselections, meter the duration of view by the plurality of free agentviewers, and to calculate a compensation due to each of the plurality ofInternet reporters and charges due to each advertiser based upon anumber of the plurality of free agent viewers and a sum duration of viewaccruing to each submittal of the plurality of news and informationitems.
 13. A method, comprising: accepting a news item from a reporter;making the news item available to a viewer on an Internet site; andcalculating a reporter compensation based on a viewer exposure measureaccruing to the news item.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein thecalculating of the reporter compensation based on the viewer exposuremeasure is performed in real time.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising communicating the reporter compensation based on the viewerexposure measure to the reporter.
 16. The method of claim 13, whereinthe news item comprises a plurality of news items, the reportercomprises a plurality of reporters, the viewer comprises a plurality ofviewers, and the reporter compensation is calculated based on a viewerexposure measure accruing to each news item.